<14>
The day before sending Delsia to the Duke Adelio’s estate, the household staff were busy packing her belongings. Among them, Ella was the busiest, carefully selecting only the clothes Delsia would need. It was no easy task.
After choosing the outfits according to season and necessity, Ella wiped the sweat from her brow and stood beside Delsia. Sitting on the bed and watching the staff move about, Delsia smiled.
“Thank you, Ella.”
“It’s nothing! I’m just doing my job. I still can’t believe it’s happening tomorrow… It feels strange, doesn’t it, Milady?”
“Yes…”
Delsia replied briefly. She still couldn’t quite grasp that tomorrow she would leave her family and go to the duke’s estate, even though it was a dream she had long cherished.
“Shall we go downstairs?”
“Yeah. Will you help me?”
“Of course.”
Delsia tucked the velvet pouch from the desk into her arms and, with Ella’s assistance, headed downstairs. Once she reached the bottom, she walked toward the study where Count Ferdo and Arnold were waiting.
Standing at the study door, Delsia knocked gently.
“Father.”
“Oh, Delsi. Come in.”
A welcoming voice sounded, and shortly after, the door opened—it was Arnold. He opened the door wide and looked down at Delsia.
“Good afternoon, Delsia.”
“Y-yes… good afternoon, brother.”
“Come in. Sit over there for a while.”
Arnold gestured to the plush sofa. Nodding, Delsia released Ella’s hand and linked arms with Arnold. Ella, not wanting to intrude on the family’s time, closed the study door behind her and left.
The sofa, prepared just for Delsia, was incredibly soft. Sitting there, Delsia’s eyes widened in admiration.
“Your father ordered it for you, Delsia. It was a long time ago… but then, as now, he probably always hoped you’d visit the study often.”
“Arnold…”
Count Ferdo shook his head at Arnold, who was spilling his hidden feelings. Arnold hesitated briefly, exhaled, and concluded,
“Anyway… he brought it in for you.”
“Thank you, Father.”
“It’s nothing, Delsi.”
Count Ferdo shrugged and set down the quill he had been holding. Delsia stared at the high-quality quill before looking away.
“By the way, what brings you here?”
“I just wanted to spend more time with you and my brother.”
“Oh, Delsi…”
Count Ferdo smiled warmly at Delsia. Her words changed his mood instantly. When she smiled, he smiled. When she cried, he teared up. That was the nature of their bond. To Count Ferdo, as with any parent, Delsia was irreplaceable. Watching her smile with eyes that curved in delight, he couldn’t help but clench his fists, trembling at the thought that he might never see this precious child again.
“Delsia, won’t you get bored at the duke’s estate?”
“I’ll do embroidery and read… time will pass quickly.”
Delsia then took the velvet pouch she had been holding and placed it on the table before the sofa. Inside were a pair of cufflinks and two quills.
“What’s that?”
Arnold asked, and Delsia smiled softly.
“A gift.”
“A gift for what?”
“For you and Father…”
At those words, Count Ferdo’s heart ached. He couldn’t tell if he was crying or laughing. It was just the word “gift,” yet it struck him deeply. This wasn’t the first gift Delsia had given him, but perhaps it could be the last.
Count Ferdo bowed his head to steady the mixture of emotions, then lifted it slowly.
“…When did you prepare this?”
His voice trembled slightly, though fortunately, Delsia seemed unaware. He rose from his seat and approached her, and so did Arnold. Throwing aside the documents he had been studying, Arnold stepped up to the table.
On it lay a pair of cufflinks set with blue sapphires and two quills made from phoenix feathers—rare and precious.
The blue sapphire cufflinks brought tears to both Count Ferdo and Arnold’s eyes. They could almost feel Delsia’s heart in the gift, choosing stones the color of their own eyes. The phoenix feather quills conveyed her wishes as well, since phoenix feathers were said to bring luck, safety, and one’s desires. Both father and son gently handled the gifts, their faces contorted with emotion.
At that moment, Count Ferdo had only one wish: for Delsia to live a long, healthy life. Whether the phoenix feathers would grant it, he did not know…
“About that day at the coffee house…”
“…”
“Are you listening? At the coffee house.”
“I’m listening. Go ahead.”
Edwin, clearly tired, waved a hand dismissively. Still, Theo spoke with determination.
“There was a young noblewoman there. Do you remember her? Or perhaps you know who she is?”
“A noblewoman? I don’t really pay attention to that. But if you’re so interested, I can find out who she is.”
“Yes, no? No, that’s not it!”
Theo jumped in surprise. Edwin laughed aloud and rose from his seat. Though a pile of documents awaited him, it was impossible to focus with Theo bustling around.
As Edwin stepped toward the garden for a walk, Theo followed closely, chattering incessantly.
“Anyway! I can’t believe you don’t know her, Master.”
“Why do you keep nagging me?”
“Nagging? That’s not true at all.”
“Instead of nagging me, why don’t you go and speak to her yourself?”
Edwin walked toward the garden, and Theo tilted his head in confusion.
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll find out who captured your heart. You go speak to her directly.”
“…Huh?”
“If you’re interested in her, just say, ‘Please go out with me.’ Is that so hard?”
Edwin chuckled and stepped into the garden. Theo, following closely, was left speechless, flustered. He had mentioned the young noblewoman hoping his master would remember her, not to cause misunderstandings.
Scratching his cheek, Theo sighed.
“You look like someone in trouble.”
At that moment, Edwin’s bodyguard, Valain, approached Theo and teased him. Theo scowled and pouted.
“Trouble? I’m a competent butler. Even the royal family wanted me, remember?”
“Well… maybe they forgot. Honestly, why would the royal family need you?”
Theo leapt in indignation, but Edwin stopped walking, calming the situation.
“Did I like roses enough to fill the garden? I don’t remember.”
Edwin stared at the garden, where purple roses bloomed profusely. Normally, choosing and planting flowers would be the responsibility of the duchess or her steward. Raising an eyebrow, Edwin looked at Theo.
“Theo, this is your doing, isn’t it?”
“…Huh? What now?”
“Unless you ordered it, why would there be so many roses here?”
“Well, I didn’t…” Theo’s denial earned only a wry smile from Edwin.
“So you’re saying I gave the order?”
“…Yes. Did the Master really give the order?”
“Not that I recall.”
“Of course not,” Theo sighed. “Master’s memory isn’t perfect.”
Edwin paused mid-step and turned to Theo.
“What did you say?”
“That Master’s memory isn’t perfect.”
“My memory isn’t perfect?”
Edwin could hardly believe it. Theo was a mischievous butler, and he expected a joke—but none came.
He gave up the walk and returned to the study, sitting down with hands clasped, and asked Theo,
“What memory have I lost? And why tell me only now?”
“Well…”
Theo hesitated. Count Ferdo had requested in his letters that he refrain from mentioning anything related to Delsia, particularly that she had risked her life to save Edwin. Speaking of it to someone who might not remember her could lead to misunderstandings, even a loveless marriage in repayment.
Theo crafted a story to avoid suspicion:
“Master, you were struck by dark magic in the western borderlands. You were near death and then awakened. You couldn’t remember everything that happened there—or even some events prior. And I’m telling you now because the circumstances allow it…”
“How do you know I lost my memory?”
“Because, Master, you often acted as if you’d forgotten things, despite your excellent memory.”
After Theo finished, Edwin sank into his thoughts. He had lost his memory… or had been affected by dark magic.
“…Hah.”
Memories from the dream flashed through his mind. He remembered saving Count Ferdo’s son and struggling to stay conscious while asking someone for help. Who was that someone? He pressed his temples, straining to remember, but came up empty.
Nothing.
The helplessness and frustration were unbearable. Clenching his fists, he muttered a curse under his breath.
